LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dizziness: Balance
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Dizziness is a disorientating sensation that often leads to a loss of balance. Almost everyone has felt dizzy or lightheaded at some point. Feelings of dizziness can be attributed to minor factors, such as excess consumption of caffeine or having blood drawn, as well as more serious underlying factors, such as diabetes and some other endocrine disorders.
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Dizziness can be caused by numerous disturbances to any of many different parts of the body. Based upon your history and physical findings, your physician may require further tests to complete a full evaluation. The test necessary are determined at the time of examination, and may include hearing and balance tests, x-rays (CT or MRI scans), blood tests, and ultrasound tests. A general physical exam and neurological tests may ... be needed.
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Any factors that can alter the function of the many parts of the brain dealing with balance function can lead to dizziness and a variable cluster of symptoms. These include any cause of inadequate blood flow (and therefore of oxygen and glucose supply) to the brain — as for example at the onset of fainting, or in illnesses causing heart failure or obstruction of the blood vessels — or impaired nutrient supply due to decrease in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). Inadequate brain blood flow may result from overbreathing (hyperventilation) — from whatever cause, including pain. Dizziness may ... be the result of environmental agents, such as carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty domestic appliances or car exhaust fumes, which again impair the brain's oxygen supply. Likewise with other causes of oxygen shortage (hypoxia) such as high altitude or lung disease.
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Rarely, tumors can be a cause of dizziness. The most common types are not cancerous. Acoustic Neuromas are benign tumors of the balance nerve. They can cause unsteadiness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Surgery is the most effective treatment.
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Control of ear infection is imperative in this type of dizziness in order to prevent spread of the infection directly into the balance center of the inner ear. Should this develop, serious complications, including total loss of hearing in the involve ear, may result. If the infection cannot be eliminated by medical treatment, surgery is indicated to remove the infection.
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Vision tests are done, and the eyes may be checked for abnormal movements (such as nystagmus—see Dizziness and Vertigo: Physical Examination). If doctors suspect vertigo, they perform special tests to provoke the symptoms (see Dizziness and Vertigo: Diagnosis). In addition, hearing tests can be used to detect inner ear disorders that affect both balance and hearing.
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